News & Events – Page 2 – Harvard Conservation Trust

Harvard Community Conference – March 2nd

February 22, 2024

Harvard Conservation Trust is happy to support the Harvard Community Conference. Harvard Community Conference Saturday, March 2nd (snow date, March 16th) from 2 – 4 pm Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library Co-sponsored by Arm in Arm and Harvard’s Climate Initiative Committee This year’s Harvard Community Conference event, brought to you by a Bromfield student, will focus on stories of climate change seen through the eyes of local residents—farmers, environmental activists, employees in the food industry and others. Their stories will touch upon their personal experience, thoughts, and feelings about climate change. The event is free and open to everyone and

New Moon Hike Under the Stars on February 9!

February 1, 2024

Come join us for a New Moon Hike on February 9 at 7:00 p.m.! Embrace the beauty of the night sky as we explore the Barba’s Point trail that takes you to the edge of Bare Hill Pond. The hike is less than a mile out and back but has a steep downhill section at the beginning of the trail and climb up on the return. If the ice is thick and safe – and passes a safety inspection – we will be able to walk onto the pond and view the constellations. What’s a new moon? A new moon

Senator Jamie Eldridge presents a $100,000 to World Farmers

January 31, 2024

Senator Jamie Eldridge and state representative Dan Sena visited John’s Field in Harvard to present a $100,000 to the World Farmers organization. The Harvard Conservation Trust (HCT) has partnered with World Farmers in a pilot project that enables immigrant farmers to farm John’s Field on Slough Road. This project supports HCT’s mission to protect land in Harvard for wildlife conservation as well as agriculture. Pictured from left to right: Gina Ashe (HCT), Jessy Gill (World Farmers), Representative Dan Sena, Henrietta Isaboke (World Farmers), Zablon Kulundu (farmer), Milkah Midenyo (farmer), Jean Brevette (farmer), Marie Romaje (farmer), Senator Jamie Eldridge, Brian Noble (HCT).

KNOW YOUR LAND: Understanding Conservation Restrictions and Chapter 61

January 22, 2024

KNOW YOUR LAND: Understanding Conservation Restrictions and Chapter 61 Zoom Webinar FEB 13 – 7:30-8:30 PM Are you interested in learning about how you can protect your land with a Conservation Restriction or how to save money on property taxes with Chapter 61? Protecting land in our Commonwealth is encouraged and supported by our state government. There are two ways to protect and preserve land parcels. State laws guide these protections (see below). The State also offers financial incentives. During this webinar, the Harvard Climate Initiative Committee (HCIC) brings you two speakers that will provide information on these laws. Ben Urquhart

New Year’s Day Walk, 2023

December 29, 2023

Harvard residents, mark your calendars for a rejuvenating start to 2024! Join neighbors and friends for an invigorating New Year’s Day walk on the Rathore property—Harvard Conservation Trust’s (HCT) newest trail. The Rathore family worked with HCT to acquire a conservation restriction that protects the land from development, allows public access to a beautiful 27-acre parcel of land, preserving important wildlife corridors and providing easy access to other HCT trails. This walk will offer both long (1.2 miles) and short (8/10 of a mile) walk options. Please note: there is one steep section on the trail so moderate hiking skills are necessary.

Harvard Trust Annual Meeting, 2023

November 27, 2023

Join the Harvard Conservation Trust for an evening with Richard Primack. Primack will share his research, its application to Harvard, and what we can do to build climate resilience in our own backyards. Henry David Thoreau was a climate change scientist! For the past 22 years, Professor Richard Primack and his team have been using Thoreau’s records from the 1850s and other Massachusetts data sources to document the earlier flowering and leafing out times of plants, the earlier flight times of butterflies, and the more variable response of migratory birds. Plants in Concord are also changing in abundance due to

2023 Destination: Nature Juried Art Show

August 1, 2023

This year’s theme for Destination: Nature — “Perspective” — offers artists the chance to explore multiple frames of reference to reveal the intricate web of life in nature. Choosing from the perspectives of wildlife, trees, water, air or other elements captures the grandeur, the subtlety, and the profound interconnectedness of the world we all call home. Selecting an abstract perspective, an artist may inspire viewers to interpret nature’s essence through expressive brushstrokes and vibrant colors, conveying emotions and inner experiences rather than tangible forms. From a romantic viewpoint, an artist might immerse us in the beauty and harmony of natural

Coke Land Restoration

July 7, 2023

The HCT has been awarded a $19,956 grant from The Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers Wild and Scenic Stewardship Council to finance large-scale invasive plant removal, native plant re-introduction, and wildlife habitat restoration on the Coke Newsham land. The area consists of 27 acres of conservation land owned by HCT and situated near Harvard’s Town Center. It also connects to several other areas of protected land, as depicted in the image below. HCT was motivated to submit this grant to support one of the primary land protection goals in the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers (NSNR) Stewardship Plan (https://www.wildandscenicnashuarivers.org/stewardship-plan.html) to “restore and